Italian outfit Lampre-Merida has already initiated their preparations for the first top appointment of the next season, the Classicissima aka Milan-San Remo.

On Wednesday, during the meeting of the technical staff, team manager and the main blue-fuchsia-green riders, the Milan-San Remo Monument was in fact one of the topics discussed.

The race, scheduled for March 17, will be characterized by an innovation: the inclusion of the Pompeiana climb, a 5 km ascent followed by 6 km downhill between Cipressa and Poggio. The Le Manie climb, on the other hand, has been deleted from the race itinerary.

At the meeting, the technical staff evaluated how the new climb will change the race: which are the characteristics of Pompeiana? Which cyclists will benefit from the new course? Will fast rouleurs be able to be competitive in the final part of the race? Will the race be open to more solutions?

Lampre-Merida’s technical assistant, Marco Marzano, performed a survey on the “new element” of the 2014 Milan-San Remo.

“The climb seems to make the race tougher,” Marzano explained. “After the medium difficulty of the first sector, the road narrows on the approach to Pompeiana village, so it will be necessary to fight for the lead positions at the front of the peloton. Then, leaving the village, the riders will face the toughest sector, with a 14% gradient. A slight slope will then bring the group to the summit. The downhill is characterized by some hairpin turns, then a series of bends that can be approached at a high speed.”

Marzano’s analysis suggests that the race could become more selective and so it could offer various solutions to a quality roster team of for versatile riders.

In fact, if the race remains suitable for fast rouleurs, the blue-fuchsia-green will rely on Pozzato and Modolo to play their part as protagonists. Otherwise, if the new climb causes a heavy selection, there will be chances for lively riders such as Ulissi, Cunego and new signing Rui Costa.